Losing Power
The Richmond region is experiencing rapid growth in hyperscale data centers, prompting concerns about their heavy use of electricity and water, noise, pollution and taxpayer-funded incentives. University of Richmond professor Mary Finley-Brook describes growing bipartisan opposition and highlights potential environmental-justice impacts in communities near Chesterfield, Henrico and Varina.
Richmond Magazine examines the expansion of hyperscale data centers across the Richmond region, where more than 100 additional sites may be proposed and Henrico, Chesterfield, Goochland and Hanover are seeing significant development. Companies including Google, QTS, Chirisa, Meta and Iron Mountain are associated with regional projects, many designed to support artificial-intelligence workloads.
University of Richmond professor Mary Finley-Brook says the facilities can consume millions of gallons of water daily, require large amounts of electricity and rely on numerous diesel backup generators that create noise and air pollution. She also questions the economic benefits of long-term employment and argues that Virginia's tax incentives and local tax policies shift costs to residents.
The article highlights the Data Center Defiance coalition and concerns about environmental injustice in Varina and other historically Black communities near White Oak Technology Park, industrial facilities, a proposed gas plant and Chirisa Technology Park. Finley-Brook says state and local authorities, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, have not adequately assessed the cumulative pollution burden on those communities, while supporters point to tax revenue, technology investment and the region's economic growth.